Our History

The Gan (Yan) immigrants have a long history in Singapore. According to epigraphic evidence, a pioneer Yan Lin had acquired land and made contributions to the Thian Hock Keng temple and a cemetery for Gan clansmen.

Prior to World War Two there was a Lu Guo Tang Gan Clan Association which organised ancestral worship at the Gan's public tomb in Leng Kee Hill during the Qingming Festival, but there is no record of its establishment. It ceased to operate during the Japanese Occupation.

On June 3, 1948, the Lu Guo Tang was re-registered under the Societies Ordinance. However, it was forced to dissolve due to weak organisational structure. Nevetheless, the Gan clansmen never gave up the idea of forming a clan association.

In 1965, Gan Yue Cheng hosted a banquet in the Imperial Room Restaurant, the host proposed the formation of the Gan Clan Association Singapore, which received an overwhelming response from the clansmen. A pro-tem committee comprising Gan Yue Cheng (co-ordinator), Gan Kee Cheow, Gan Hui Chong, Gan Kok Hua, Gan Teng Chek and Yan Song Xu was set up, with a temporary office at No. 142, Cross Street.

The first preparatory meeting was held in the Guan Chong Bee Tea Co. Ltd. The meeting resolved to draft a constitution for a clan association and to apply to the government for registration.

On April 6, 1966, the application was approved and the Gan Clan Association was officially formed. The first president was Gan Yue Cheng. Initially, it had less than a hundred members. Besides recruiting members, it initiated a fund-raising drive to buy premises. With the hence the association building in No.18 and 20 Bukit Pasoh Road was purchased at a cost of $135,000.

In 1976, Gan Yue Cheng, Gan Kee Chow (颜期巢), Gan Hui Chong(颜辉宗) and Gan Boon Siong (颜文祥) went to visit the Philippines Gan Clan. They received a donation of S$30,000 from Gan Qi Dang (颜期党), a fellow Gan from the Philippines. As a gesture of appreciation for his generosity, one of the halls in Gan Clan Association’s premises was named “Chun Zhi Tang” (纯治堂) as 纯治 was his mother’s maiden name. Another hall was named "Yee Hoon Ting (诒云厅)" as Yee Hoon was the father of Gan Yue Cheng. Gan Yue Cheng also donated $30,000. With the generous donations from these members, Gan Clan Association was able to own a permanent home for fellow Clan members in 18-20 Bukit Pasoh Road without incurring any financial debt.

Our Milestones

1966

Founding of Gan Clan Association by Gan Yue Cheng

1966

The purchase of association building in No.18 and 20 Bukit Pasoh Road at a cost of $35,000 by fund-raising campaign.

1970

Launch of "Gan Clan Association Scholarship"

1971

First donation to overseas Gan association where Gan Clan Association Singapore donated S$1500 to Pahang Gan Clan Temple for its building fund.

1977

Launch of Welfare Fund and implementation of memorial service

1979

Celebration of 10th anniversary and published GCAS 10th Souvenir Magazine

1984

A permanent educational fund was raised to help the needy, academically bright and well-behaved clansmen's children to complete their studies.

1986

The very first overseas chinese group to establish a commemorative monument for ancestors since the founding of the People's Republic of China, GCAS representative team went overseas and visit Qufu, the hometown of ancestor Yan Hui. The process was filmed in a Japan movie Yellow Sea.

1988

Became the first local clan association to set up a karaoke recreational center.

1988

Launch of Senior Citizens Club

1989

Launch of Women Group and Youth Group

1991

Celebration of 25th anniversary and hosted the first World Gan Clan conference which was attended by about 300 delegates from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, United States, Canada and Malaysia.

1991

Collaboration with Maybank in the issuing of credit card scheme.

1991

Held the first academic research talk "The Social Values of Yanzi's Thought"

1994

Organised Chinese Karaoke Singing Competition for the first time.

1995

Celebration of 30th anniversary and hosted the third World Yans clan conference.

2000

Held the first health talk "How to Prevent Arthrosis" by speaker Dr Cao Guang Rong who is a traditional chinese practitioner.

2001

Held a live band concert for the first time.

2003

Established Yanzi Research Committee (颜子研究理事会)

2004

Established Live Band Singing Class Management Committee

2013

Launch of Gan Heritage Centre

Find out more historical research in "History of the Gan" or in chinese, "颜氏族人在东南亚" by Prof Yen Ching Hwang